The Love of the World Reproved

“Renounce the world!” the preacher cries.
“We do!” a multitude replies.

Thus says the prophet of the Turk,
Good Mussulman, abstain from pork;
There is a part in every swine
No friend or follower of mine

May taste, whate’er his inclination,
On pain of excommunication.
Such Mahomet’s mysterious charge,
And thus he left the point at large.

Had he the sinful part express’d,
They might with safety eat the rest;
But for one piece they thought it hard
From the whole hog to be debarr’d;

And set their wit at work to find
What joint the prophet had in mind.
Much controversy straight arose,
These choose the back, the belly those;

By some ’tis confidently said
He meant not to forbid the head;
Wile others at that doctrine rail,
And piously prefer the tail.

Thus, conscience free from every clog,
Mahometans eat up the hog.

You laugh—’tis well—the tail applied
May make you laugh on t’other side.
“Renounce the world!” the preacher cries.
“We do!” a multitude replies.

While one as innocent regards
A snug and friendly game at cards;
And one, whatever you may say,
Can see no evil in a play;

Some love a concert, or a race;
And others shooting, and the chase.
Reviled and loved, renounced and follow’d,
Thus, bit by bit, the world is swallow’d;

Each thinks his neighbour makes too free;
Yet likes a slice as well as he:
With sophistry their sauce they sweeten,
Till quite from tail to snout ’tis eaten.

Or, Hypocrisy Detected

William Cowper